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Rob McWilliam to replace Alex Russo as Asda chief financial officer

Rob McWilliam will rejoin Asda after leaving in 2012 for a role at Amazon

Asda CFO Alex Russo is to leave the business after four years, to be replaced by Rob McWilliam, the supermarket’s former finance director.

McWilliam left Asda in 2012 after 15 years to join Amazon, where he worked until January last year, first as finance VP and then consumables VP.

Russo has been at Asda since 2014, before which he spent five years as UK group commercial finance director for Tesco.

It was announced in January this year that McWilliam would be working with Asda again on a consultancy basis, supporting strategy development.

He will replace Russo at the end of July.

‘During his four-and-a-half years in role at Asda, Alex has played a key leadership role in steering the business in a challenging market and continued to develop the role and influence of the finance team,’ said Walmart International EVP and CFO Richard Mayfield and Asda CEO Roger Burnley in a note issued jointly to staff.

‘He has also helped to make the difficult choices to support the improving performance we have seen over the last two years. Alex has been discussing his desire to seek a new challenge for more than a year and we’re delighted that he has found the right business opportunity that he has been looking for.’

The note added: ‘Rob is no stranger to the Asda/Walmart business having previously clocked up 15 years’ experience in the Asda finance team and, since January, Rob has also been working closely with Roger, supporting on Asda strategy. This will allow Rob to hit the ground running.’

Asda also announced that John Fallon had been promoted to deputy CFO and would take on a ‘broader leadership role within the business’.